Box



May 14, 1963 R. v. BURDICK Erm.

BOX'

Filed Oct. 28. 1960 n INVENToRs RALPH V.V BURDICK FIG.3

RALPH V. BUR DICK g'JR. BY Kanu/l Daj/mn/uawol /w Filed ct. 28, 196i), Ser. No. 65,666 l Gaim. (Cl. 22d-43) This invention has to do with boxes of the circular type, made, for example, from relatively thin sheet metal, wherein substantially hermetically to seal semi-solid materials, many of which contain volatiles, such as lshoe polishes, waxes, ointments, creams, and the like, which it is desired to preserve, such boxes being disclosed in an earlier Patent No. 2,379,680, issued to one of the applicants herein. The subject application is provided to present an improved design over the box Set forth in the aforesaid patent.

lt has been pointed out in the above mentioned patent that boxes of this type, and particularly for such materials as shoe polish, and the like, have volatile constituents so that such boxes must be designed to maintain a substantially air-tight iit between the cover and the container portions, while at the same time being easy to open and close.

The fact that such air-tight engagement between cover and container portion in a box of this type is required to obtain a substantially hermetic seal often makes it diicule and inconvenient to remove the cover from the box. The patent mentioned above provided a box with a snapoif cover which could be disengaged from the bottom or container portion by application of pressure on the edge of the cover at a specific point. Although the patent discloses a device which overcomes many of the diiiiculties encounted in providing an air-tight seal in addition to simplified opening and closing, further simplication was cont tinually sought. A major problem concerned with the box disclosed in the aforementioned patent came not in the opening of the 'box but rather in the closing thereof.

The box set forth in the aforementioned patent was designed speciiically to solve the problem of providing a substantially hermetic seal and at the same time providing a box of such design that it could be easily opened. Such an objective was accomplished by the box of the design as set forth in the aforesaid patent. An unforeseen dithculty, however, arose when the box which was the subject of that patent was actually marketed and used. Since the box of the aforesaid patent has, through the years, been used principally for containing shoe polish and has been so used in the home by persons attempting to polish their own shoes, a particular difficulty of such use of the box became evident. The difficulty being that in so using such a box the individual attempting to polish his shoes has attempted to remove the cover of the box with one hand while holding a brush or other polish applying device in the other hand. Additionally, such person has attempted to close the box with one hand. The box set forth in the aforementioned patent having been designed primarily for easy opening presented difficulties in closing and since the material enclosed within the container was a shoe polish which tended to discolor the -ngers and hands upon use and since diiiiculties in closing the box resulted in the necessity of using both hands and generally discoloring a number of fingers with the shoe polish, the box although accepted by the public has not found the use which it should have. Such a box as disclosed in the earlier patent has not been utilized to the extent that it should have been by women and others who in the course of their household tasks attempt to maintain their fingers in a clean condition.

In order to overcome the difficulty as set out above with respect to the box disclosed in the patent previously mentioned, other type boxes have been utilized for containing shoe polish. Such boxes, in order to present a Cil Spd-@bdd Patented May 14, 1963 box which upon closing would be hermetically sealed and which would be simple to open as well as simple to close, have resulted in certain difficulties also. For the most parts these attempts have .been unsuccessful. Some of the designs in order to provide a box which could be easily closed had to sacriiice ease of opening and, as a result, many boxes are used today which require coins or disks or other devices to be utilized in the opening thereof.

The invention herein disclosed has as its principal object the furnishing of an improved box with a snap-otf cover which can be removed and replaced with relative ease and which will preserve an air-tight seal over long periods when closed. Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide such a box which can be opened or closed with one hand and without the application of great pressure or force. Another object of the invention is to provide such a box which possesses features, properties `and the relation of elements which will accomplish the objects for which the box is designed in such a manner that the external surfaces of the box will remain free -at all times of the contents of the box and the opening and closing of the box will not result in discoloration or disposition upon the hand of the person using the box of the contents or a portion of the contents contained therein.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved box which contains all of the advantages of the box disclosed in the aforesaid patent while overcoming the specific difficulties encountered in the use of such a box in the closing thereof.

An improved box embodying the invention and the manner of using the same is described herein with references to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved box constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a cover of the type used in the box shown in FIG. l with the cover in tilted position disposed upon a container of the type disclosed in aforesaid Patent No. 2,379,680 which is shown in phantom; and y FIG. 3 is an elevational View of an improved box constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention having the cover thereof in tilted condition to compare such improved box with the box shown in FIG. 2.

The improved box which is the subject of this invention is illustrated in the iigures where in the numeral 1li indicates the cover or top element of the box and the numeral 11 indicates the container or bottom element of the improved box which is the subject of this invention. The cover is generally the same in structure as the cover shown and described in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 2,379,680. The numeral l2 is used to indicate a container or bottom element of the box or the type shown and described in the aforesaid patent and shown herein in phantom in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 the top or cover on container 12 is indicated by the numeral 10 since it is the same cover as cover lil in FIGS. l and 3.

The cover element comprises a substantially cylindrical skirt portion 13 having yan inside diameter adapting it closely and frictionally to engage a peripheral contact bead formed on the container. In FIG. 2 wherein the old type container is `shown in phantom the bead is indicated generally by the numeral 14 whereas in FIG. 3 wherein is shown the improved container of this invention, the peripheral bead is indicated by the numeral 15. To provide high resistance to deformation under laterally applied forces, an outstanding peripheral flange 16, having its outer edge rolled inwardly as shown at 17 is provided around the bottom of the skirt. The skirt is also provided with struck-in portions 18, 19 and 20 which are spaced from one another in triangular configuration on the skirt forming trunnions resting upon the top edge of the container when the cover is seated thereon as de- 3 scribed in the aforesaid United States Letters Patent No. 2,379,680. Such trunnions insure the cover being squarely seated on the container and maintain the cover in proper position thereon with the skirt of the cover engaging the peripheral bead 14 or 15 of the container.

To enhance its resistance to deformation, the top of the cover is arched somewhat, preferably as shown, with the central portion thereof above the marginal portions. The central portion 21 of the cover is substantially at on top, circular in outline, and may conveniently be made of a diameter adapting it to be nested within struck-down annulus in the bottom of the container portion. As seen in FIG. 3, such struck-down annulus is indicated by the numeral 22 and the portion of the cover indicated by the numeral 23 is formed as a channel to receive annulus 22. Channel 23 surrounds portion 21 of the cover. The zone 24 of the cover between channel 23 and the extreme marginal portions is frustro-conical in form. It will be noted, that the marginal zone 25 of this conical portion which is adjacent the :skirt is somewhat lower than the top of the skirt and is connected to the top of the skirt `by a torus-like transition surface 26.

Considering FIG. 2 wherein a container of the type shown and described in aforesaid Patent No. 2,379,680 is shown in phantom, when downward pressure is applied to cover at the point indicated by the arrow A the skirt portion of the cover in the zone of pressure will be forced further downwardly over the contact bead 14, the trunnions 18 and 20 (not readily seen in FIG. 2) will roll on the top edge of the container, and the cover will be tilted downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2 and unseated from the container. The ease of opening such a box is evident. Upon the cover 10 being tilted to the appropriate position the cover will snap off as the skirt becomes disengaged from peripheral bead 14.

Turning to FIG. 3 wherein container 11 having peripheral bead is shown, cover 10 can be disengaged from bead 15 of container 11 in exactly the same manner that cover 10 can be disengaged from peripheral bead 14 of container 12. In FIG. 3 the arrow designated by the letter B indicates the point of force of contact for opening the box.

In summary therefore at this point, it is noted that both the box which is the subject of U.S. Patent No. 2,379,680 and the box which is the subject of this application have the same cover. Also, each of these boxes utilizes a container having a peripheral bead engaging the skirt of the cover to hermetically seal the box. Further, in both designs, the cover is disengaged from the container by application of force on a marginal portion of the cover so that the trunnions can roll on the top edge of the container until the cover is sufficiently tilted for the skirt of the cover to become disengaged from the peripheral bead of the container.

The improved container 1I1 shown in FIG. 3 in addition to having bead 15 and annulus 22 contains or is formed with an outwardly projecting peripheral ledge 27 which provides with the wall of the container an upwardly facing shoulder 28 intermediate the bottom Wall 29 and the top wall 30 containing the peripheral bead 15. Ledge 28 is so disposed with respect to the remainder of the container that upon the seating of the cover on the container with trunnions 18, 19 and 20 resting on the top peripheral edge of the container, flange 16 of the cover will not engage ledge 28.

With such an improved container as that disclosed in FIG. 3 the cover can still be removed therefrom in the manner previously described since the dimensions involved allow the trunnions to roll on the top peripheral edge of the container to release the skirt from peripheral bead 15. However, with such a design and herein lies the essence of the improvement, surface 28 prevents the skirt of the cover from being projected downwardly over the container to such an extent that the upper edge of the container can engage the marginal portion of section 24 of the cover. As aforesaid, the improvement herein has as its objective principally to present a box which can be hermetically sealed and readily opened as in the box shown and described in aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 2,379,680 and which will in addition allow for ease of closing and overcome the principal objection to the use of the box described in the aforesaid patent. In the use of the old box of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, upon closing, and especially when it is attempted to close the box with one hand, it is not unusual for too great a force to be applied along the marginal portion of the cover to the extent that the balance of forces are upset and the skirt of the cover is projected completely over the bead of the container to the extent that the upper peripheral edge which is indicated by the numeral 31 in FIG. 2 engages the lower inside surface of marginal portion 25 of the cover. In such an event, in order to close the box the user must apply a force to the opposite marginal portion of the cover of the type and in the position indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 2. Such force must be sucient to draw the skirt of the cover over the bead 14 and upwardly and at the same time bring the skirt in the sector beneath the force C into engagement with bead 14. Since the force required as in C to disengage the skirt and bead on the one side so that it can be engaged on the other is greater than the force normally required to engage the skirt and the bead, and since the force is applied in the same manner vas that of opening the container, it is without great diliculty that the user again over shoots and forces the skirt beneath the force C again completely over peripheral bead 14 so that the cover, once again, is not in position on the container but rather the upper peripheral edge of the container is engaging the lower marginal surface of the cover or some other under surface of the top of the cover.

Considering now the improved device illustrated in FIG. 3. Upon the application of force B to open the device, the action is exactly the same as that in the device shown in FIG. 2. However, when it is attempted to close the box of FIG. 3, it is impossible for the user to engage the upper peripheral edge 32 of container 11 with the marginal portion 25 of the cover or any surface beneath the top thereof. Surface 28 upon the application of a force such as B in closing engages surface 16 of the cover and prevents the same from projecting over the side of the container. With the cover so held the user can apply a small force such as D at the other side which will immediately bring the skirt of the cover beneath the force D over the peripheral bead `15 until the trunnions 18, 19 Iand 20 engage edge 32 of the container. Upon so engaging the continued application of force D will cause the side of the cover beneath the force B to rise slightly so that the cover will be completely seated with trunnions 18, 19 and 2) resting in their proper positions upon peripheral edge 22 of the container 11.

With the design as set out in FIG. 3 it is impossible for the cover to overshoot, enabling the user to close |the box without difculty, with a single hand if it is desired, and to alleviate the necessity of struggling with the box and having the cover overshoot the side of the box and disposing discoloring contents of the box thereon. With such a design as that disclosed in FIG. 3, the external portion of the box will remain clean and free of the box contents so Vthat use of the box can be had without discoloring the lingers. The improved box as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to presenting the improvement heretofore described, also accomplishes the objectives of the design set out in United States Patent No. 2,379,680 in that a hermetic seal is obtained in a box which can be readily opened in snap-off fashion by application of a single force on an edge of the cover. The box shown in FIG. 3 can be opened with one hand and, in addition, the box shown in FIG. 3 can readily be closed with one hand whereas this could not be done with the box shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, it should be observed that the lower surface of flange 16 is arcuate of the top flat surface of ledge 27 so that the flange can easily roll on the ledge. The skirt of the cover being resilient and the arcuate form of the flange aid in closing the box. It should further be noted that the three trunnions 18, 19 and 20 are formed with their lower surfaces arcuate toward the container so that they can readily roll on the top edge of the container and that the lowermost edges of each of the trunnions lie in substantially the same plane so that the trunnions provide a three-point seat Afor the cover.

Thus, among others, the several objects in the invention, as specifically aiorenoted, are achieved. Obvioussly, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spi-rit of the invention as defined by the claim.

We claim:

An easily opening and easy-closing substantially cylindrical box formed of thin rigid sheet material speciiically adapted for hermetically sealing volatile solid and paste materials such as Shoe polish, ointments, creams, and the like, comprising a round container body member and a round cover member having straight sides in hermetic sealing relation therewith, each formed of a single thickness of the material, said container having its top circular uppermost edge formed with an inturned bead of double thickness of material about the entire periphery of said edge which is adapted to tit within said cover, and an annular uniformly wide ledge indented from the side wall of the container body and extending entirely around the container body which is spaced below the upper edge at a distance less than the depth of said cover whereby the lower edge of said cover rests on said ledge in the closed position, the bottom of said single thickness container being inwardly indented at its outer edge to form a bottom edge bead, the bottom being further provided with a concentric struck-down channel section annular -bead spaced inwardly from said outer edge bead, these beads stiifening said bottom and forming a pair of outwardly projecting circularly shaped rounded concentric supporting channels for said container bottom, the top of said cover being provided with a pair of inwardly inydented concentric channels, one at the edge and the other spaced inwardly from the edge to stiften the cover top and to nest with the corresponding pair of outwardly projecting channels in the container bottom when a plurality of closed boxes are stacked upon each other, the side wall ot said cover being formed with an outwardly projecting peripheral bead of double thickness of material adapted to rest on the ledge of the container body, the side wall of said cover being further provided with at least three circumferentially equally spaced trunnions struck inwardly from the top edge, said trunnions having an arcuately curved bottom portion spaced above the bottom bead of said cover which extends below the top beaded edge of the container body with the cover in sealed position over the container -body and an open top portion meeting the top edge of the cover, these inward trunnion indentations of the cover .side providing camming and snap closing action on pushing the cover downwardly over the upper beaded edge of the container body, the upper wall portion of the side of the container body above said ledge being tapered from the maximum diameter at the upper double thickness beaded edge downwardly and inwardly to the minimum diameter of the container body at the inner edge of said ledge, whereby the closing movement and the opening movement of said cover flexes the inner edge of said ledge to provide snap action opening and closing `due to the camming action of the inner surface of the trunnions against the top beaded edge of the container body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,081 Metzger et al Oct. 27, 1914 1,626,930 Grogg May 3, 1927 1,803,566 Sexton May 5, 1931 2,379,680 Burdick July 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,254 Great Britain 1908 483,388 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1938 862,527 France Dec. 9, 1940 

